Composite expansion joint assembly

ABSTRACT

A composite expansion joint assembly of alternating elastic sealing elements and rigid structural members mounted on support members slidably supported on bearing plates defining the bottom of the expansion groove and affixed to permanent slab supporting substructures therebeneath. Hold-down members limit vertical displacement of the support members relative to the bearing plates.

United States Patent [1 1 McLean et al.

[ Dec. 17, 1974 COMPOSITE EXPANSION JOINT ASSEMBLY [75] I Inventors: Ronald L. McLean, Tonawanda;

Richard J. Bartula, Buffalo, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Acme Highway Products Corporation, Buffalo, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 400,182

[52] US. Cl. 14/16, 404/47 [51] Int. Cl. .1. E01c.11/00 [58] Field of Search 14/16; 404/47, 57, 58, 404/68, 69; 52/396 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Fassbinder r, 404/47 3,520,230 7/l970 Sequin-is t. 4(14/6 3.0063410 Q/W7l liowimm JIM/(W X 3,699,853 iii/I972 Wicks 404/57 X Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Robert W. Gibson, Jr.

- Attorney, Agent, or FirmChristel & Bean ABSTRACT 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures COMPOSITE EXPANSION JOINT ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to expansion joints and, more particularly, to composite expansion joints of the type employed in structures for accommodating large movements between adjacent sections.

Composite expansion joints are conventionally employed in bridge structures and the like wherein the relative movement of adjacent bridge deck slabs or sections in response to temperature changes is too great to be accommodated by a single seal unit. Such composite expansion joints normally consist of a series of laterally spaced elastic seals extending lengthwise of the expansion groove between adjacent deck sections and separated by rigid structural members or plates. Thus, the composite joint assembly consists of alternating elastic and rigid members mounted between a pair of relatively movable deck sections. These rigid members customarily are supported on tubular beams or bars extending transversely thereof and projecting into the adjacent slabs. As a result, casings or housings, usually formed of metallic plates, are embedded in the bridge deck slabs to receive the ends of these support beams or bars. The cost of such components, together with the time and labor involved in fabricating them, adds materially to the costs of installation. Also, in providing such protective casings, rebates or cutouts are initially' formed in the deck sections to accommodate the casings, which cutouts must be subsequently filled, further adding to the cost of installation. Moreover, the loads imparted to the beams are transmitted to the spaced bearing surfaces on which such beams are supported, thus imposing heavy loads on relatively-small surfaces.

Also, in many of the prior known composite expansion joint assemblies, vertical shifting of the intermediate rigid members caused by traffic moving thereacross,'tends to distort the expansion joint assembly and creates undesirable noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved composite expansion joint assembly overcoming the above noted disadvantages.

It is another object of this invention to provide the foregoing composite expansion joint assembly with means for transmitting loading forces directly onto the deck support substructure therebeneath.

It is stillanother object of the present invention to provide an improved composite expansion joint assembly which is simple and strong in construction, durable and rugged in use, relatively low in costs, and which possesses adequate compression and expansion capabilities.

A composite expansion joint assembly of this invention is characterized by the provision of a plurality of v come clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a composite expansion joint assembly of the present invention, shown disposed between a pair of bridge deck sections;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, on an enlarged scale, being taken about on line 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the composite expansion joint assembly of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken about on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view,-on an enlarged scale, taken about on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a support member employed in the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken about on line 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing certain of the elements in differently related positions; and

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of another form of the composite expansion joint assembly of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT and which have opposed vertical faces 20 and 22 (FIG.

2) defining the lateral sides of the expansion groove in which expansion joint assembly 10 is installed. Joint assembly 10 extends across-the width of the groove between faces and 22 and for the full length of the groove transversely to the length of deck sections 12 and 14. While the composite expansion joint of this invention is especially adapted for use in bridge constructions and will conveniently be described in conjunction therewith, it should be understood that such expansion joint is in no manner restricted to such use and has general utility in various expansion joint applications.

The upper flanges 24 ofedge channels 16 and 18 are substantially flush with bridge deck sections 12 and 14 and the lower flanges 26 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the upper surfaces of opposed plates 28, which are partially embedded in deck sections 12 and 14 and terminate in inner edges 30 offset from the vertical faces 20, 22 of edge channels 16 and l8 to form recesses 32. The inner edge portions of plates 28 are supported along the outer edge portions of a generally flat bearing plate 34.

It is a feature of this invention to mount bearing plate 34 directly on the upper surface of a pier cap 36 forming the upper end of a pier tower (not shown). As is well known, a series of pier towers extend crosswise of the bridge span at longitudinally spaced intervals therealong for supporting the same. A plurality of equally spaced plates 34 (FIG. 1) are adhesively secured or otherwise fixedly mounted on pier cap 36 along the length of expansion joint assembly 10. Bearing plates 34 support the anticipated loading on the expansion joint and transmit such loadsdirectly onto the pier towers therebeneath. The size and the spacing of bearing plates 34 and plates 28 are dictated by the particular application and the number thereof can be varied, as

anti-friction material can be provided on the upper surface of bearing plate 34 in addition to or in lieu of providing plates 28 with such a layer, if desired. In order to secure plates 28 and 34 together for proper relative placement in the expansion groove during the installation thereof, suitable openings 38 and 40 (FIG. 7) are provided in edge channel flanges 26 and plates 28 and are adapted to be aligned for registry with tapped openings 42 in bearing plate 34 to temporarily receive bolts 44 therethrough.

In order to permit removalof bolts 44 after the concrete deck sections have been poured, hollow protective tubes 46 (FIGS. 3, 7 and 8) are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the opposed faces of flanges 24, 26 of edge channels 16 and 18, respectively, to prevent bolts 44 from being covered by the flowable pavement material. Edge channel flanges 24 are provided with access openings 48 in vertical alignment with the hollow tubes 46 to permit the insertion of suitable tools into tubes 46 for removing bolts 44 after the poured material has at least partially set. Suitable plugs 50 are threaded into openings 48 for closing the same during the concrete pouring operation'and after removal of bolts 46.

A pair of seal locking channels 52 extend lengthwise of the expansion groove and have upper flanges 54 and lower flanges 56 connected together by web portions 58 which are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the upper portions of the vertical faces and 22 of edge channels 16 and 18, the flanges 54 and 56 of locking channels 52 extending inwardly toward each other.

A plurality of resiliently yi'eldable sealing elements 60 are disposed between seal locking channels 52 with the outermost sealing elements 60, received and positioned between flanges 54 and 56 of seal locking channels 52 as shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of I-beam members 62 also are positioned within the space defined by locking channels 52, there being an I-be'am 62 interposed be tween each pair of adjacent sealing elements 60. Sealing elements 60 comprise tubular members of elastomeric material each having a suitable internal supporting truss structure and are secured to channels 52 and l-beam members 62 by a suitable'adhesive, all in a manner well known in the art. Each I-beam member 62 is provided with a vertical web 64 and upper horizontal flanges 66 and 68 extending laterally outwardly on opposite sides of web 64. Lower horizontal flanges 70 and 72 extend laterally outwardly from opposite sides of web 64 at the lower end thereof. Flanges 66, 70 and 68, 72 of adjacent I-beams 62 receive and position the intermediate sealing element 60 in place. The upper flanges 54 of channels 52 and the upper flanges 66, 68 of I-beam members 62 are substantially co-planar and just slightly below the level of the upper flanges 24 of edge channels 16 and 18, which are flush with the upper surfaces of deck sections 12 and 14.

It is a feature of this invention to provide means supporting I-beam members 62 for lateral movement toward and away from each other during compression and expansion of sealing elements 60 to accommodate relative movement of deck sections 12 and 14 toward and away from each other. Such means comprise a series of inverted T-shaped support members 74 welded or otherwise fixedly secured at the upper ends thereof to the lower flanges of I-beam members 62 and slidably supported on bearing plates 34. As shown in FIG. 6, each member 74 comprises a vertical web or leg 76 and a horizontally extending, generally rectangularly shaped foot portion or pad 78 welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the lower end of leg 76 and adapted to bear on the upper surface of bearing plate 34. The bottom surface of foot portions 78 are provided with a coating or layer 79 of ananti-friction material, such as nylon, for example, to facilitate sliding movement of foot portions 78 on bearing plate 34. Members 74 can be fabricated by simply welding an upright plate to a right angularly related base plate or by severing a conventional I-beam section along its longitudinal axis. to form two members 74. e

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each plate 34 supports five such members 74 for sliding movement relative thereto, the members 74 being arranged in a staggered relation with each member 74 being associated with and attached to a. different I-beam member 62. This array or pattern of members 74 is' repeated on the several plates 34 which are spaced at equal intervals from each other along the length of the expansion joint. While the specific pattern depicted is preferable, it should be understood that any suitably array of members 74 can be employed, as desired. The number of members 74 used on each plate 34 is dictated by the number of l-beams 62 incorporated in the expansion joint and this depends on the width and requirements of a particular application.

It is another feature of this invention that -I-beam' members 62 are restrained against vertical displacement and that inverted T-shaped support members 74 are'held against unrestrained bouncing on plates 34. To

this end, a pair of elongated, outer hold-down brackets 82 are secured to bearing plate 34 for limiting vertical displacement of members 74 and thereby l-beam mem bers 62. As shown in FIG. 5, brackets consist of angle members each having a generally vertically extending leg 84 weldedor otherwise fixedly secured to the edge of bearing plate 34 and a horizontal leg 86 spaced above the upper surface of bearing plate 34 in overlying relation to the outer portions of the endmost foot pads 78 adjacent the outer edges thereof.

Each hold-down bracket 82 has a generally U-shaped configuration in cross section (FIG. 5) and comprises a web 88 welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the upper surface of bearing plate 34 and a pair of spaced, vertically extending legs 90 terminating in out turned flanges 92 spaced from the upper surface of bearing plate 34 in overlying relation to the outer edge portions of adjacent foot pads 78. Brackets 80 and 82 are oriented in a parallel relation extending in a direction transversely of the length of the expansion joint, the lengths of brackets 80 and 82 varying in accordance with the sixes and lateral spacing of members 74.

A pair of relatively thin, narrow strips 94 of neoprene or other suitable resiliently yieldable material, are adhesively secured to the upper surface of each foot pad 78 along the edges thereof confronting the hold-down bracket legs 86 and flanges 92 to provide a cushioning effect between brackets 80, 82 and foot pads 78 to reduce noise therebetween upon limited vertical movement of the latter caused by vehicle traffic on the deck. The upper surface of footpad 78 can be completely covered by a sheet of adhesively secured, resiliently yieldable material, such as neoprene, if desired. Such a sheet can be provided with a rectangularly shaped cut out section conforming to the size of vertical leg 76 and slipped thereover prior to the securing thereof to I- beam member 62. Hold-down brackets ,80, 8,2 are designed to severly limit vertical displacement of members-74 relative to bearing plate 34, without interfering with relative sliding therebetween. Cushioning strips 94 are only slightly spaced from the overlying legs 86 and flanges 92 of brackets 80 and 82 and engage the undersides thereof to reduce shock and noise upon upward movement of I-beam members 62 and the associated members 74. This prevents possible deterioration consequent upon unrestrained bouncing, and virtually eliminates the problem of noise.

In use, sealing elements 60 of composite expansion joint assembly are compressed and expanded to accommodate relative movement of bridge deck sections 12 and 14 toward and away from each other while maintaining pressure sealing engagement against channels 52 and I-beams 62 to prevent the entry of moisture, dirt particles, deleterious chemicals and the like into the joint. Simultaneously, I-beam members 62 move laterally toward and away from each other by means of the inverted T-shaped support members 74, which slide or ride on bearing plates 34. Footportions or pads 78 of members 74 are guided in their lateral movements between hold-down brackets 80, 82 and are restrained thereby for-only limited vertical displacement. The relatively large bearing surfaces of foot pads 78 resist the tendency for [beam members 62 to tilt or rock laterally under the impact of various loads imparted thereto. Also, the vertical downwardly acting forces on expansion joint 10 are transmitted by means of members 74 and bearing plates 34 directly to the pier towers therebeneath which are more than adequate for handling such vertical loads.

During movement of deck sections 12 and 14 toward each other, edge channels 16, 18 and plates 28 are displaced toward each other relative to bearing plate 34 with plates 28 sliding on bearing plate 34. Simultaneously, l-beam members 52 move laterally toward each other with members 74 riding on bearing plate 34. Sealing elements 60 are compressed between locking channels 52 and'adjacent I-beam members 62, the joint movement of the composite expansion joint assembly 10 being the sum of the movements of sealing elements 60. Assuming, by way of example, that a typical sealing element 60 in the illustrative embodiment can be compressed one and a half inches under maximum compression, the total movement in the illustrated expansion joint assembly will be nine inches. Recesses 32, defined between the bottom flanges 26 of edge channels 16 and 18 and the upper surfaces of bearing plate 34, can accommodate the foot pads 78 of the laterally outermost members 74, and the hold down brackets 80 and 82, if necessary, under maximum compression. Upon movement of pavement sections 12, 14 away from each other the reverse action occurs. It will be appreciated that expansion joint assembly 10 is shown fully extended in FIG. 2.

The number of sealing elements 60 and I-beam members 62 can of course vary as dictated by the total movement required for a specific application. FIG. 9 illustrates another form of a composite expansion joint assembly 10 of this invention comprised of only a pair of sealing elements 60 and one l-beam member 62 positioned therebetween. As in the embodiment first described, I-beam member 62 is rigidly secured to inverted T-shaped support member 74, which is supported on hearing plate 34 for sliding movement relative thereto. Other than incorporating a lesser number of sealing elements 60, l-beam's 62 and members 74, this form of the invention differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by eliminating the hold-down brackets 80, 82 and utilizing instead a pair of additional plates 96 for performing the same function. As shown in FIG. 9, each plate 96 is interposed between and rigidly secured to the edge channel bottom flange 26 and plate 28 and has a cantilevered portion 98 projectinginwardly therefrom into the expansion joint groove. The projecting cantilevered portions 98 of plates 96 def ne with the inner edges of plates 28 and the upper surface of bearing plate 34 a pair of recesses 100 for receiving the outer lateral portions of foot pad 78 during inward movement of pavement sections 12 and 14 upon the expansion thereof. Also, the opposed, projecting portions 98 of plates 96 overlie the lateral portions of foot pad 78 to severly limit vertical displacement of the latter relative to bearing plate 34 and consequent vertical displacement of the intermediate I-beam member 62. This prevents possible deterioration of member 74 upon unrestrained bouncing. The resiliently yieldable material 94 on the upper surface of foot pad 78 provides a cushioning effect between foot pad 78 and projecting portions 98 to virtually eliminate any noise resulting from impact therebetween.

Openings 102 are provided in plates 96 for registry with edge channel flange openings 38 and plate openings 40 to permit the passage of bolts 44 therethrough during installation. After the concrete or other paving material has been poured and at least partially set, bolts 44 are removed in the same manner described in connection with the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, plates 96 form a part of the sliding structure movable relative to bearing plates 34. While preferably two openings 102 are provided in each plate 96 and a corresponding number i in edge channel flanges 26 and plates 28 and each side of bearing plate 34, it should be understood that more or less than two such openings can be provided as dictated by the particular application. Also, the outside dimensions of plates 96, 28 and 34 can vary in accordance with the specific application.

The composite expansion joint assembly of the present invention is capable of withstanding various forces imparted thereto, such as deflection, rotation and rockmg.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the objects of this invention have been fully accomplished. A simple and improved composite expansion joint assembly is provided whereby the loads imparted thereto are transmitted directly through bearing plates 34 onto the permanent deck supporting structure therebeneath in a manner utilizing to the best advantage the strength and load supporting capabilities of the latter. Also, the inverted T-shaped support members 74 supporting the l-beam members 62 are provided with relatively large foot portions in bearing contact with the bearing plates to prevent lateral tilting or rocking movement of the I-beam members 62 resulting from overhead traffic loads. Also, these I-beam support members 74 are tied down to the bearing plates 34 by means of brackets 80, 82 or opposed plates 96 which limit vertical displacement of these support members and thereby the I-beam members 62, insuring a substantially level deck surface. Cushioning strips are interposed between the support member foot portions 78 and the brackets or plates to reduce noise resulting from overhead traffic loads.

' Illustrated embodiments of this invention having been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that this has been done by way of illustration only.

We claim:

1. A composite expansion joint assembly comprising: edge members adapted to define the opposite sides of an expansion groove between deck sections; a plurality of longitudinally spaced bearing plates defining the bottom of said groove and projecting outwardly of said edge members; opposed plates rigidly secured to the lower ends of said edge members and supported on said bearing plates for sliding movement relative thereto adjacent at least one end thereof; a plurality of resiliently yieldable elongated sealing elements in side-by-side relation between said edge members; an elongated rigid structural member interposed between each'pair of adjacent sealing elements; and support members rigidly secured to the lower ends of said structural members at spaced intervals therealong and supported on said bearing plates for sliding movement relative thereto.

2. A composite expansion joint assembly according to .claim 1 wherein the bearing surface of each of said bearing plates is provided with a relatively thin layer of anti-friction material having a low coefficient of frictron.

3. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bearing surfaces of said opposed plates are provided with relatively thin layers of antifriction material having low coefficients of friction.

4. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said support members comprises a web rigidly secured at one end thereof to a rigid structural member and a foot portion affixed to the other end of said web; said foot portion having a relatively large bearing surface in engagement with said bearing plate.

5. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 4 wherein said foot portion bearing surface is provided with a layer of anti-friction material having a low coefficient of friction.

'6. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 including a pair of seal locking members secured to said edge members and extending lengthwise of said assembly, said sealing elements interposed between said seal locking members.

7. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 wherein said support members are provided with foot portions having relatively large bearing surfaces in contact with said bearing plates preventing lateral tilting movement of said rigid structural members.

8. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 including means engageable with said support-member foot portions for limiting vertical displacement of said support members and said rigid structural members.

9. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 8 wherein said displacement limiting'means comprise brackets secured to said bearing plates and having raised horizontally extending portions overlying said support member foot portions.

10. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 9 including noisereducing cushioning material secured to said support'member foot portions and interposed between said foot portions and said bracket portions. t

11. A composite expansion. joint assembly according to claim 8 wherein said displacement limiting means comprise a second pair of opposed plates interposed levered portions of said second pair of opposed plates. =l= 

1. A composite expansion joint assembly comprising: edge members adapted to define the opposite sides of an expansion groove between deck sections; a plurality of longitudinally spaced bearing plates defining the bottom of said groove and projecting outwardly of said edge members; opposed plates rigidly secured to the lower ends of said edge members and supported on said bearing plates for sliding movement relative thereto adjacent at least one end thereof; a plurality of resiliently yieldable elongated sealing elements in side-by-side relation between said edge members; an elongated rigid structural member interposed between each pair of adjacent sealing elements; and support members rigidly secured to the lower ends of said structural members at spaced intervals therealong and supported on said bearing plates for sliding movement relative thereto.
 2. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bearing surface of each of said bearing plates is provided with a relatively thin layer of anti-friction material having a low coefficient of friction.
 3. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bearing surfaces of said opposed plates are provided wIth relatively thin layers of anti-friction material having low coefficients of friction.
 4. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said support members comprises a web rigidly secured at one end thereof to a rigid structural member and a foot portion affixed to the other end of said web; said foot portion having a relatively large bearing surface in engagement with said bearing plate.
 5. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 4 wherein said foot portion bearing surface is provided with a layer of anti-friction material having a low coefficient of friction.
 6. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 including a pair of seal locking members secured to said edge members and extending lengthwise of said assembly, said sealing elements interposed between said seal locking members.
 7. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 wherein said support members are provided with foot portions having relatively large bearing surfaces in contact with said bearing plates preventing lateral tilting movement of said rigid structural members.
 8. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 1 including means engageable with said support member foot portions for limiting vertical displacement of said support members and said rigid structural members.
 9. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 8 wherein said displacement limiting means comprise brackets secured to said bearing plates and having raised horizontally extending portions overlying said support member foot portions.
 10. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 9 including noise reducing cushioning material secured to said support member foot portions and interposed between said foot portions and said bracket portions.
 11. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 8 wherein said displacement limiting means comprise a second pair of opposed plates interposed between said first mentioned opposed plates and said edge members and having cantilevered portions projecting inwardly therefrom in overlying relation to said support member foot portions.
 12. A composite expansion joint assembly according to claim 11 including noise reducing cushioning material secured to said support member foot portions and interposed between said foot portions and said cantilevered portions of said second pair of opposed plates. 